"We want to see our kids and see the country. Living in an RV allows us to do both."
-- Glenn E. Avery, Chicopee

Full-time RVers Sylvia and Glenn Avery, of Chicopee, stand outside their motorhome in August at Sunsetview Farm Camping Area, Monson. The Averys were in Western Massachusetts to spend time with family and keep appointments with doctors. Sylvia holds Snowflake, a Klee Kai miniature husky; Glenn holds Bandit, a Pekingese.Photo by Norm Roy

Sylvia L. Avery was very happy and comfortable in 2008, living in her "dream home" in Chicopee.

Glenn E. Avery, carpenter by trade, had remodeled to Sylvia's liking their 2,200-square-foot, four-bedroom Dutch colonial. "It had a center entry and there was no painted woodwork ... all natural," Sylvia said.

Fond memories dwelled in that house, too. The couple had raised four sons and a daughter there.

Sylvia was born in Chicopee and was living in Portsmouth Va., when she met Glenn, a New Yorker serving in the Navy. They will celebrate their 50th anniversary in August.

Glenn's trade brought them back to Chicopee when he went to work helping build the Sheraton in downtown Springfield. Sylvia worked at the Ames department store in Chicopee and at K-Mart in West Springfield.

It was Glenn, 70, who hatched the wild notion that he and Sylvia, 65, sell the house to live and travel in their 38-foot motorhome. The transition wasn't easy for Sylvia, who spent six months clearing out the house and preparing for life on the road.

"A mom collects things," Sylvia said, "things your children made for you over the years. You have to learn to let go."

There was also the feeling that she was "running away and leaving the baby at home."

Glenn's face lights up as he explains that "the baby was 25 years old at the time."

The morning of Sylvia's mother's funeral, Glenn had a heart attack; he spent three months recovering in Virginia.

Glenn said his desire to be a full-time RVer was built on two aims.

"We both want to see our kids and see the country," he said. "Living in an RV allows us to do both."

Two of their sons live in Chicopee. Careers took two others to Alabama and Virginia. Their daughter lives in Texas.

Today, the Averys tour the country and "we see all of our children every year," Sylvia said. "We spend about a month with each of them without having to live in their homes."

The journey's memories definitely got better.

"Twenty-ten was our year for coast-to-coast RV touring," Glenn said. Their favorite stop "so far, is Glacier National Park in Montana where the views are amazing."

"Ultimately we would like to see the southern West Coast," he said. "Alaska seems too far and too cold for our likes."

Better still.

The Averys plan to be in Lubbock, Texas, this month "for the arrival of our great-grandson. This will be our second great-grand child," Sylvia said. At the end of January, they were able to help Glenn's sister, Margaret, celebrate her 90th birthday in Whitney, Texas.

Glenn said he has loved full-time RVing "since day one." Sylvia admits she is "slowly coming around" to share Glenn's enthusiasm. "We expect to be full-timers until health issues or age stop Glenn from driving," Sylvia said. "Our best guess is 10 more years."

Norm Roy, a retired production editor for The Republican, lives and travels in a motorhome. He is eager to hear from readers about their own travel adventures. His e-mail address is: lollygaggeratlarge@gmail.com